Search Results for: workholding

A customer asked me to make a Wierix try square for him this week, and because it’s silly to make just one wooden square, I’m making a batch of five this week and am documenting the process here on the blog. If you don’t know what a Wierix square is, it’s an old style...

Whenever I write about threadboxes, my personal blog gets swamped with spam from the Pacific Rim. So batten down the firewalls, mateys. I started writing about the Moxon double-screw vise in 2010 (original post here) and have made many of them using a threadbox and tap that you can buy from many reputable woodworking...

Here’s a basic trick for planing up the rails and stiles for your doors. If you use power sanders, move along quietly to some other blog entry. The random-orbit sander was pretty much invented to solve this problem that occurs in traditional work. So you’ve cut the joinery on your rails and stiles and...

pages 14-15 A bench hook is an indispensable workholding device for crosscutting. The traditional bench hook is made of a base, a stop or rest and a cleat. It is usually used against the apron or front edge of a workbench, or clamped in the vise. To crosscut a long piece, I used to...

Exclusive for Popular Woodworking newsletter subscribers! Enter your email address in the box below for a free digital guide to the lumberyard. It will help you select the straightest, highest-quality boards. You’ll also receive e-newsletters from Popular Woodworking and select partners, crammed with great information. Someone once said, “The toughest advice to follow is your...

“For me, furniture design is mostly about problem-solving.” –Marc Spagnuolo, The Wood Whisperer Let’s say you have a good shop to work in – including a solid workbench or other reasonable workholding strategy – as well as some woodworking knowledge and a budget for lumber. You really want to design your own furniture and...

I’ve been pushing at the borders of my woodworking knowledge lately. I can feel a growth spurt coming on. For me, that growth will entail a move from the “building boxes” camp (mostly cabinet-sized boxes) to the “build your own furniture” camp. It’s a common transition for woodworkers – and not just beginners or...

I’m not sure if I can call it “progress” yet, but I have acquired access to a larger shop space. It is rather run-down, so there is some work to be done. Sweeping was first. A close second was taking a look at the workbench. It was surrounded by a pile of locally harvested...

I know there are people who use edge tools straight out of the box, but I can’t. I always sharpen them. So why should workbench accessories be any different? For many years I’ve been indifferent to metal planing stops. The aluminum ones are terrible for too many reasons to even get into here. The...